Unifor is expressing outrage Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. will cut 1,300 positions and close six of its radio stations.
Three other radio stations, including CKWW AM580 in Windsor, will be sold.
Bell said it could not wait any longer for the federal government's Online Streaming Act, which will force social media giants like YouTube, Netflix, and Disney+ to pay for Canadian content. It received Royal Assent in April.
"If foreign streamers are allowed to compete directly with Canadian broadcasters, they should have the same responsibilities to support the telling of Canadian stories, and that should include local news," said a statement from Unifor on the day of the announced cuts.
"These layoffs cut deep, especially in smaller communities that rely on local news, and undermines democracy," said National President Lana Payne. "Bell had other choices, in anticipation of policy changes, but chose to pull the trigger on these layoffs."
The union calls on the federal government to amend Bill C-11 to ensure the Broadcasting Act requires the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to support local news. That would include developing financing, production, and promotion of local news and programming. It urges the government to create a $120-million news relief fund.
"If the government doesn't act now, there will be little left of Canadian journalism to save," warned Payne.
Unifor Media Director Randy Kitt said Canadians should not assume companies like Bell, Rogers, Shaw, and Quebecor will continue to fund local news gathering.
"All parties must acknowledge the importance of local news and quality journalism," he told a Senate hearing in November. "The government and the CRTC have to strengthen, not weaken, the regulatory framework that supports Canadian media and local news in this country."
On Wednesday, both on- and off-air staff at Windsor's Funny 1290, Calgary's Funny 1060, Edmonton's TSN 1260 Radio, Vancouver's BNN Bloomberg Radio 1410 and Funny 1040, and London's NewsTalk 1290 were informed their stations would go dark.
NewsTalk 1290 CJBK went off the air at 11 a.m. on Thursday, more than half a century after it launched.
In addition to the Oldies radio station in Windsor, Bell put Hamilton's AM Radio 1150 and AM820 up for sale. The sales depend on regulatory approval from the CRTC.
Unifor represents more than 10,000 media workers including 5,000 in the broadcast and film industries.